They had no idea how many bands would show up.
The creative team at the newly renovated Brackendale Art Gallery: Café & Culture Centre was looking at their schedule for the new year and brainstorming ways to help fight winter fatigue. They wanted to give the Squamish community something to propel them out of their houses, and they figured a Battle of the Bands event would do the trick—but would anyone show up?
“Initially, when we put the call out, we were afraid we weren’t going to get anyone. At first, people were slow to enter, but then we put it out through Facebook posts and all of a sudden I was having to turn people away and start waiting lists,” artistic director Catherine McInnes told the Chief.
“I didn’t curate it. I just accepted everyone on a first-come, first-served basis.”
The multi-week series kicked off on Jan. 10, with 160 audience members cheering on the bands. It was the first of three elimination rounds before a final on Jan. 31, with one band selected from each week until the three winners face off.
Battle of The Bands Round Two is on Friday, Jan. 17.
The first-week winner was Squamish’s own Zombie Roof.
“There’s such a mixture of levels and types of music. It’s definitely rock-focused, but there’s some blues bands, heavy metal and classic rock, so there’s a really good variety.”
One band is made up of 9 to 11-year-old boys, including broadcaster and author Grant Lawrence’s son. Some bands are long-established while others have just been created, and McInnes is glad this series caters to them all—while giving audiences a chance to dance.
“It’s hard to find an open night at the BAG now, and the weekends are where we concentrate ticketed concerts. We’ve been trying a lot of different genres, booking local bands and doing dance music. Squamish is very active, and people like to move, so any event where they can get on the dance floor sells well,” she said.
They have a packed roster until May, with many bands approaching them from outside the community. The Battle of the Bands is one way they can support the local music scene while attracting new talent to perform in Squamish.
“We’ve got musicians from all over the Lower Mainland reaching out, so clearly the word has gotten out.”
Find out more about the Battle of the Bands and many other activities at the BAG on its website.
